Emirates International School Jumeriah and Emirates International School Meadows – both owned and operated by the Al Habtoor Group – celebrated the UAE National Day 40th Anniversary with a range of activities involving pupils, teachers and parents.
At Emirates International School Jumeirah festivities began on November 23 with the launch of a ‘Loyalty Book’ in the Hall of the school. Both parents of pupils and staff were invited to visit throughout the day to record their happy memories of living in the UAE.
The mood was up-beat too the following day – November 24, when a school parade up and down Al Thanya Street took place at 8.30am. This saw approximately 1,000 pupils take part, with many wearing UAE scarves, hats and badges and waving the national f lag and banners in celebration of the occasion, as they sang the national anthem.
Both the UAE National Day and the 20th anniversary of Emirates International School Jumeirah were marked on Sunday November 24 with all of the pupils making a large scale flag formation in the grounds of the school.
Wearing t-shirts in the colours of the UAE flag – green, white and red and black, they assembled excitedly in the school grounds before classes began. Once photographs were taken of the formation, a massive cake was produced and balloons were released into the sky.
A performance by the students was staged on the morning of National Day itself – December 2 – and pupils were given a half day to commemorate the occasion.
At Emirates International School Meadows the festivities were just as exciting. The celebrations began on November 27 with the opening of a new library which will house Arabic literature for primary school students. A display of photographs by the official Royal Photographer Ramesh Shukla was also launched on the day in the Main Entrance Foyer of the school. A time-line explaining the development of the UAE was also put on display.
The following day – November 29 saw the launch of a permanent Majlis in the Main Entrance Foyer. Traditional style cushions and carpets were laid out and Arabic coffee and dates were served to visitors. Arabic cookery and craft demonstrations also took place and there were samples of traditional food available, henna painting and even a puppet show to mark the special anniversary.
Pupils at Emirates International School Meadows also participated in creating a flag and letters of the UAE formations in honour of the occasion. Approximately 1,500 pupils plus 200 adults, including teachers and parents, gathered in the school grounds on the morning of November 30. The pupils wore t-shirts in the same manner as Emirates International School Jumeirah. Afterwards a performance was staged by the pupils, over 1,000 balloons were released into the sky and students were allowed to picnic in the grounds of the school.
Both schools had put special emphasis on the study of UAE history and culture in the two-week run up to the celebrations in order to emphasise the importance of the occasion.